When a shotgun fires, after the hunter pulls the trigger, what is the next event in the sequence?

• A. The firing pin strikes the primer
• B. The barrel cools
• C. The shell ejects
• D. The safety engages

Answer: (A)

When the trigger is pulled, the next event is the firing pin delivering a strike to the primer in the cartridge. That tiny primer explodes, which lights the powder behind it. The powder then burns rapidly, producing high-pressure gas that pushes the shot out of the shell and down the barrel. The shell ejects and the safety changing position aren’t the immediate next steps—the shell ejection happens as the action cycles after firing, and cooling or engaging the safety can occur at other times and aren’t the immediate sequence right after pulling the trigger.